HIGHFIELD MOSS

SATURDAY 16th AUGUST 2008

Leaders: David Bryant/Chris Felton

This was a joint meeting between the LBS and the MNA. 17 members gathered outside the station and we started botanising and insect hunting nearly straight away. There was a marvellous wall nearby, covered in ferns. David said it was bedrock sandstone; a considerable time was spent there.  We walked into Willow Park, an excellent area with lots of interest for both Societies.  We passed an overhanging plum tree, damson trees and filled our faces with blackberries (yummy).  Highfield Moss is a wonderful place. Vera and I visited the area every August for many, many years.   For those of you who have never been to the Moss, it is well worth a visit.   The weather forecast was very bad but we were so lucky; it didn’t rain, although it was very gloomy with a cold wind blowing.  Everyone enjoyed the day. My thanks go to David Bryant and Chris Felton for their expertise and also for their great company. Here’s to the next time.

List of plants worth a mention:

Gentiana pneumonanthe (Marsh gentian) - the star of the show!
Hydrocotyle ranunculoides (Floating pennywort)
Impatiens glandulifera (Himalayan balsam)
Oenanthe crocata (Hemlock water dropwort)
Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum (Water cress)
Lemna minor (Common duckweed)
Stachys palustris (Marsh woundwort)
Galium palustre (Marsh bedstraw)
Achillea ptarmica (Sneezewort)
Solidago virgaurea (Golden rod)
Senecio aquaticus (Marsh ragwort)
Pedicularis sylvatica (Lousewort)
Cydonia oblonga (Quince)/ Loquot - identification still to be confirmed.

Report from Pat Lockwood